Cat. #0710 (MFH #158) - As sung by Floyd McGinnis, Pea Ridge, Arkansas on May 20, 1969
VERSE 1
A laughing baby boy, one evening in his play
He disturbed th household with his noisy glee
I wanted him to be good, but he soon would disobey
Or he would soon forget, th word from me
I called 'im to my side, an' said, now you must go to bed
Your conduct has been very, very rude
With quivering lips an' tear dimmed eyes he pleaded then with me
Don't make me go t' bed and I'll be good
CHORUS:
Don't, Papa, I'll be good
Don't, Papa, I'll be good
That's what I heard 'im say
An' it haunts me night an' day
Papa, don't make me go t' bed
An' I'll be good
VERSE 2
Our life has just been glad'in by his bright ascending beams
Our boy now in our hearts was very dear
I hastened to his bed and found him talking in his sleep
He didn't seem t' know that we were near
I took 'im in my h'arms an' found his body wrecked with pain
To ease his pain we did th best we could
It broke my heart to him cry'n loudly in his sleep,
Don' make me go t' bed and I'll be good
VERSE 3
How sorrow fills the hearts, our prayers pressed t' mine
When danger hovers 'round th one we love
He lingered but a day, then his spirit pass't away
To join th angels' chorus up above
All night an' day we watched an' prayed an' never left his side
To give him up, it seemed we never could
It broke my heart to 'im, saying just before he died
Papa, don't make me go t' bed an' I'll be good